Dimitry Bivol Readying For Battle With Canelo Alvarez

We are about a month away from the scheduled WBA Light Heavyweight title showdown that has champ Dimitry Bivol of Russia having secured the “golden ticket” financially to face future Hall of Famer, Canelo Alvarez. And, the champion is looking good for his upcoming latest title defense.

Boxing insider Steve Kim, who hosts the “3 Knockdown Rule” podcast with Hollywood star/fight fan Mario Lopez, visited Bivol’s camp in Southern California on Tuesday and posted videos of the Russian looking sharp in advance of the biggest fight of his career coming in Vegas “Cinco de Mayo” weekend.

This is the most muscular Ive seen Dmitry Bivol. He's in great spirits. Had a light workout today… #boxing #CaneloBivol pic.twitter.com/L8h0elwN2z

— Steve Kim (@SteveKim323) April 5, 2022

Bivol, who has trained in Southern California for several years now, was also apparently willing to hold the bout at a lesser “catch weight” limit of 171 or so lb. That’s had Alvarez and his camp wanted to do that. However, Canelo apparently insisted that for the fight to happen that Bivol’s 175 lb. WBA title be on the line for the upcoming bout.

The 31 year old Russian is 19-0 and has made six defenses of his 175 lb. title. His last bout was in December and a lackluster decision win over fellow Russian Umar Salamov for Matchroom Boxing. And, that relationship led him to the opportunity to with Alvarez.

This after Canelo, 57-1-2, 39 KOs, attained Undisputed status at 168 lb. by fighting Premier Boxing Champions fighter Caleb Plant on a Showtime PPV last November and won by TKO. However, that was only a “one-off” bout with PBC making Alvarez free to sign a multi-fight deal with Matchroom and the DAZN streaming service and on PPV.

The hope for the second bout will be for a trilogy fight with former current IBF Middleweight champ, Gennady Golovkin in September. The Golovkin third fight, if it actually happens, has been rumored for three years. That’s, since Canelo won a narrow split decision over Triple G in September 2018 on the heels of the two having fought a disputed draw the year before that many thought GGG had won.

On more variable for the long rumored Canelo-GGG III will also be: the Lithuanian defeating Japan’s WBA World Middleweight titleist Ryota Murata. That’s in their Middleweight Unification bout coming on Saturday night in Japan (early Saturday a.m. in the United States).

For now, Canelo and Bivol are focused on each other and big things are obviously in store for the winner.